Microplastics in Swiss surface waters, and upstream

Aquatic pollution due to plastics, and especially microplastics ( < 5 mm), is becoming the subject of growing research together with an increasing awareness of their environmental harm. Most of the studies focus on oceans and the situation in freshwaters remains largely unknown, with data for rivers and lakes remaining fragmentary. 80% of marine plastic pollution is considered as having a continental origin, although few studies document this statement and the precise sources remain unclear. Microplastic pollution is a reality in Switzerland, in all matrices. Toxicity is unclear, but fauna is prone to microplastics ingestion and exposed to associated pollutants